Selective depth electrode deployment for electrical stimulation

Abstract

The invention is directed toward stimulation of a selected tissue layer. A device is attached to a target tissue by applying vacuum pressure to a vacuum cavity of the device and advancing a needle into tissue within the vacuum cavity. The depth on the vacuum cavity is selected to permit deployment at the selected tissue layer. In one embodiment, the invention is directed toward an implantable medical device comprising a device housing defining a vacuum cavity, and a vacuum port for application of vacuum pressure to draw tissue into the vacuum cavity, an electrode that is movable into the vacuum cavity of the device housing to contact at least a portion of the tissue drawn into the vacuum cavity, and a lead comprising at least one conductor coupled to the electrode.

1. An implantable medical device comprising:
 a device housing defining a vacuum cavity and a vacuum port for application of vacuum pressure to draw tissue into the vacuum cavity; 
 an electrode that is movable into the vacuum cavity of the device housing to contact at least a portion of the tissue drawn into the vacuum cavity; and 
 a lead comprising at least one conductor coupled to the electrode, wherein the lead extends outside the device housing. 
 
     
     
       2. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the electrode comprises a needle electrode that is movable into the vacuum cavity to penetrate at least a portion of the tissue drawn into the vacuum cavity. 
     
     
       3. The device of  claim 2 , further comprising an electrical stimulator electrically coupled to the needle electrode via the lead to deliver electrical stimulation to the tissue. 
     
     
       4. The device of  claim 2 , wherein a depth of the vacuum cavity is selected to permit deployment of the needle electrode at a selected layer of the tissue. 
     
     
       5. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the vacuum cavity comprises a first vacuum cavity, and wherein the housing further comprises a second vacuum cavity, and wherein the electrode comprises a needle electrode that is movable to penetrate tissue in at least one of the first and second vacuum cavities. 
     
     
       6. The device of  claim 5 , wherein the first and second vacuum cavities have different depths, and wherein the different depths are selected to permit deployment of the needle electrode at different, selected layers of the tissue. 
     
     
       7. The implantable medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the vacuum cavity comprises a first vacuum cavity that defines a first depth, wherein the housing further defines a second vacuum cavity that defines a second depth and a third vacuum cavity that defines a third depth, wherein the first, second and third depths are different from one another, and wherein the electrode comprises a needle electrode that is movable to penetrate tissue in at least one of the first, second and third vacuum cavities. 
     
     
       8. A system comprising:
 an electrode assembly comprising:
 a housing defining a vacuum cavity and a vacuum port for application of vacuum pressure to draw tissue into the vacuum cavity, and 
 an electrode that is movable into the vacuum cavity of the housing to contact at least a portion of the tissue drawn into the vacuum cavity; 
 
 an electrical stimulator located outside of the housing of the electrode assembly; and 
 a lead comprising at least one conductor that extends outside the housing of the electrode assembly and electrically couples the electrical stimulator to the electrode. 
 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 8 , wherein the electrode comprises a needle electrode that is movable into the vacuum cavity to penetrate at least a portion of the tissue drawn into the vacuum cavity. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 9 , wherein the lead and the electrical stimulator are fully implantable. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 9 , wherein a depth of the vacuum cavity is selected to permit deployment of the needle electrode at a selected layer of the tissue. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 8 , wherein the vacuum cavity comprises a first vacuum cavity, wherein the housing further comprises a second vacuum cavity, and wherein the electrode comprises a needle electrode that is movable to penetrate tissue in at least one of the first and second vacuum cavities. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 12 , wherein the first and second vacuum cavities have different depths, and wherein the different depths are selected to permit deployment of the needle electrode at different, selected layers of the tissue. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 8 , wherein the vacuum cavity comprises a first vacuum cavity that defines a first depth, wherein the housing further defines a second vacuum cavity that defines a second depth and a third vacuum cavity that defines a third depth, wherein the first, second and third depths are different from one another, and wherein the electrode comprises a needle electrode that is movable to penetrate tissue in at least one of the first, second and third vacuum cavities. 
     
     
       15. A method comprising:
 applying vacuum pressure to a vacuum cavity in an electrode assembly housing to draw tissue into the vacuum cavity; 
 advancing an electrode that is movable into the vacuum cavity of the housing to contact at least a portion of the tissue drawn into the vacuum cavity, wherein the electrode is coupled to at least one conductor in a lead that extends outside the electrode assembly housing, and wherein the lead is coupled to an electrical stimulator that is located outside of the electrode assembly housing; and 
 delivering electrical stimulation from the electrical stimulator to the tissue via the lead and the electrode. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the electrode comprises a needle electrode, and advancing comprises advancing the needle electrode into the vacuum cavity to penetrate at least a portion of the tissue drawn into the vacuum cavity. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , wherein a depth of the vacuum cavity is selected to permit deployment of the needle electrode at a selected layer of the tissue. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 16 , wherein the vacuum cavity comprises a first vacuum cavity, the housing further comprises a second vacuum cavity, and advancing comprises advancing the needle electrode to penetrate the tissue in at least one of the first and second vacuum cavities. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the vacuum cavity comprises a first vacuum cavity that defines a first depth, wherein the housing further defines a second vacuum cavity that defines a second depth and a third vacuum cavity that defines a third depth, wherein the first, second and third depths are different from one another, wherein applying vacuum pressure comprises applying vacuum pressure to at least one of the first, second and third vacuum cavities, and wherein advancing an electrode comprises advancing a needle electrode to penetrate tissue in at least one of the first, second and third vacuum cavities. 
     
     
       20. An implantable medical device comprising:
 a device housing defining first and second vacuum cavities and one or more vacuum ports for application of vacuum pressure to draw tissue into at least one of the first and second vacuum cavities; and 
 an electrode that is movable into at least one of the vacuum cavities of the device housing to contact the tissue drawn into the respective vacuum cavity, wherein a depth of at least one of the first and second vacuum cavities is selected to permit deployment of the electrode at a selected layer of the tissue. 
 
     
     
       21. The device of  claim 20 , wherein the electrode comprises a needle electrode that is movable into at least one of the first and second vacuum cavities to penetrate the tissue drawn into the respective vacuum cavity. 
     
     
       22. The device of  claim 21 , further comprising an electrical stimulator, positioned within the device housing, that is coupled to the needle electrode to deliver electrical stimulation to the tissue. 
     
     
       23. The device of  claim 20 , wherein the first and second vacuum cavities have different depths, and wherein the different depths are selected to permit deployment of the needle electrode at different, selected layers of the tissue. 
     
     
       24. The device of  claim 20 , wherein the first vacuum cavity defines a first depth and the second vacuum cavity defines a second depth different than the first depth, wherein the first depth is selected to permit deployment of the electrode at a first selected layer of the tissue and the second depth is selected to permit deployment of the electrode at a second selected layer of the tissue different from the first selected layer of the tissue. 
     
     
       25. The device of  claim 24 , wherein the device housing comprises a third vacuum cavity defining a third depth different from the first and second depths, wherein the third depth is selected to permit deployment of the electrode at a third selected layer of the tissue different from the first and second selected layers of the tissue, and wherein the electrode comprises a needle electrode movable into at least one of the first, second and third cavities. 
     
     
       26. The device of  claim 24 , wherein the first cavity and the second cavity are axially aligned with each other, and wherein the third cavity is off-axis from the first and second cavities. 
     
     
       27. A method comprising:
 applying vacuum pressure to at least one of a first and second vacuum cavity in an electrode assembly housing to draw tissue into the respective vacuum cavity; 
 advancing an electrode that is movable into at least one of the first and second vacuum cavities of the housing to contact the tissue drawn into the at least one of the first and second vacuum cavities, wherein a depth of at least one of the first and second vacuum cavities is selected to permit deployment of the electrode at a selected layer of the tissue; and 
 delivering electrical stimulation to the tissue via the electrode. 
 
     
     
       28. The method of  claim 27 , wherein the electrode comprises a needle electrode, and advancing comprises advancing the needle electrode into at least one of the first and second vacuum cavities to penetrate at least a portion of the tissue drawn into the respective vacuum cavity. 
     
     
       29. The method of  claim 28 , further comprising delivering the electrical stimulation from an electrical stimulator positioned within the housing, the electrical stimulator being coupled to the needle electrode to deliver electrical stimulation to the tissue. 
     
     
       30. The method of  claim 27 , wherein the first vacuum cavity defines a first depth and the second vacuum cavity defines a second depth different than the first depth, and wherein the first depth is selected to permit deployment of the electrode at a first selected layer of the tissue and the second depth is selected to permit deployment of the electrode at a second selected layer of the tissue different from the first selected layer of the tissue. 
     
     
       31. The method of  claim 30 , wherein the electrode assembly defines a third vacuum cavity defining a third depth different from the first and second depths, wherein the third depth is selected to permit deployment of the electrode at a third selected layer of the tissue different from the first and second selected layers of the tissue, wherein applying vacuum pressure comprises applying vacuum pressure to at least one of the first, second and third vacuum cavities, and wherein advancing an electrode comprises advancing a needle electrode into at least one of the first, second and third cavities. 
     
     
       32. The method of  claim 31 , wherein the first cavity and the second cavity are axially aligned with each other, and wherein the third cavity is off-axis from the first and second cavities.